Ben Medinger - Randolph Record

04 Jun

UCA stamps season as state champs

Randolph RecordSportsBen Medinger, Carter Brown, class 1-A, Jake Hunter, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Coach Rob Shore, here during the Class 1-A state finals, directed Uwharrie Charter Academy to a state championship in his first season as head coach. (P.J. Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) HOLLY SPRINGS – Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team looked the part of state champion. The Eagles kept their crisp play in place all the way through the Class 1-A state finals. UCA won the title for the second time in four seasons by sweeping North Moore in the best-of-3 series at Ting Stadium. Saturday’s clincher came in the form of an 8-1 victory with pitcher Brett Smith firing a five-hitter. He struck…

02 Jun

UCA rides Hunter’s pitching, defense to Game 1 win in state finals

Randolph RecordSportsBen Medinger, class 1-A, Jake Hunter, nchsaa, North Moore, Prep baseball, Ting Stadium, Troy Carver, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Uwharrie Charter Academy first baseman Ben Medinger tags out North Moore’s Elliot Furr as part of a pick-off play during Game 1 of the Class 1-A state finals Friday. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) HOLLY SPRINGS – Freshman Jake Hunter threw a complete game as Uwharrie Charter Academy defeated North Moore 2-1 in the opening game of the Class 1-A state championship series Friday at Ting Stadium. Game 2 in the best-of-3 competition is at 11 a.m. Saturday, with a third game, if necessary, at 5 p.m. “Game 1 is really big,” Hunter said. “It’s hard to win two games in a…

01 Jun

Eagles soar at right time: UCA set for state finals vs. North Moore

Bob SuttonSportsBen Medinger, class 1-A, Jake Hunter, nchsaa, North Moore, Peyton McCollum, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Troy Carver, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Ben Medinger has been a key hitter for Uwharrie Charter Academy's baseball team this year. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record) ASHEBORO – It wasn’t all great for Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team this season. But the Eagles have good timing. That’s why they still have games to play entering June. UCA will compete for a state championship. “We started out a little slow and we found a rhythm,” senior left fielder Peyton McCollum said. “We felt like we had the potential.” The Eagles (20-10) take on North Moore (22-8) in the best-of-3 Class 1-A state championship series beginning Friday at Ting Stadium…

26 May

UCA Eagles sweep Eastern Randolph in regional finals

Bob SuttonSportsBen Medinger, Brent Haynes, class 1-A, Eastern Randolph athletics, Jake Hunter, nchsaa, piedmont athletic conference, Pierce Leonard, Prep baseball, Rob Shore, Stratton Barwick, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

UCA team members gather after winning the Class 1-A West Region title. Clutch late-inning work boosts UCA’s baseball team RAMSEUR – It was pretty much a matter of Uwharrie Charter Academy’s baseball team making the best of tough situations Thursday night. By doing so, the Eagles are heading to where they want to go. UCA completed a Class 1-A West Regional finals sweep of Eastern Randolph by winning 8-1 in Game 2, scoring all their runs in the last two innings. “It still hasn’t sunk in,” UCA senior Ben Medinger said of the chance to play for a state title.…

14 May

Prep baseball: Eastern Randolph, UCA slide through first week of state playoffs

Randolph RecordSportsAdam Cole, Andrew Thomas, Ben Medinger, Cohen Caviness, Eastern Randolph baseball, Eli Gravely, nchsaa, Prep baseball, Tanner Marsh, UCA, Uwharrie Charter Academy athletics

Jake Hunter’s pitching has given Uwharrie Charter Academy a boost. (Randolph Record) Eastern Randolph and Uwharrie Charter Academy took different paths to the third round of the Class 1-A state playoffs in baseball. Each team won twice in the first week of the state playoffs. No. 21 seed Eastern Randolph (6-17) won two road games, beginning with a 9-5 ousting of No. 12 seed Mount Airy. Then the Wildcats went to No. 5 seed Hayesville, where Friday night’s game was suspended in the fifth inning. Eastern Randolph ended up with a 5-2 victory when the game concluded Saturday. Eastern Randolph…

24 Apr

Prep Roundup: Randleman claims PAC baseball crown

Randolph RecordSportsAndrew Canter, Ben Medinger, Cade Hill, Ellie Garrison, Emma Mazzarone, Macie Crutchfield, piedmont athletic conference, Prep baseball, prep soccer, Prep softball, Randleman baseball, Seth Way, Summer Bowman

Eastern Randolph’s softball team has had lots to cheer about this season despite last week’s loss to Southwestern Randolph. (File photo) RANDLEMAN – Randleman avenged a loss from three nights earlier to defeat visiting Trinity 6-1 on Friday night and secure another Piedmont Athletic Conference baseball championship. The Tigers (17-4 overall, 10-2 PAC) won their regular-season home finale. They’ll be the top seed for the conference tournament as a prelude to their bid for a third consecutive Class 2-A state championship. Second-place Trinity won 3-2 earlier last week behind Cade Hill’s complete-game pitching and Landon Mowery’s home run. The Bulldogs…

19 Apr

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ben Medinger

Randolph RecordSportsathlete of the week, Ben Medinger, high school sports, Prep baseball, prep sports, student athlete, Uwharrie Charter Academy

Uwharrie Charter Academy, baseball Medinger has been a steady performer for the Eagles, and he’s one of the core veterans on the team. UCA went 3-0 last week, including winning a pair of tight Piedmont Athletic Conference matchups with Eastern Randolph. Medinger scored a run in the team’s 3-0 decision against Eastern Randolph. Medinger, a senior utility player, is among the top UCA players in on-base percentage and run production. He was one of two UCA selections for the All-PAC team in 2022. Entering this week with an 8-9 record, the Eagles are within two victories of matching last year’s…